Purpose:
Interdisciplinary stroke rounds were created as a communication forum for staff working with the stroke survivor and family in our hospital stroke unit. The interdisciplinary team discusses patient specific needs in addition to met and unmet clinical practice guidelines.
Methods:
Interdisciplinary stroke rounds are scheduled daily at a set time in the stroke unit conference room. The team is comprised of the following members and disciplines: RN Unit Manager, RN charge nurse, RN caregiver for the patient, Stroke program Nurse Coordinator, Physician Director of the Stroke Program, rehabilitation specialists: speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, registered dietician, chaplain, casemanager, liaison RN for admission to acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing or outpatient rehabilitation. A precise discussion is coordinated by the RN charge nurse or the Stroke Nurse Coordinator using a stroke performance measure template accessible to the team.
The interdisciplinary team provides input related to their expertise. Eight of the standard stroke performance measures are discussed and addressed for compliance. Compliant staff documentation and patient education opportunities are discussed and interdisciplinary care plans are activated.
The interdisciplinary team summarizes the needs identified in stroke rounds and each member is responsible for completion before the end of their shift.
Results:
Our hospital has earned the Stroke Get with the Guidelines (GWTG) gold plus award for multiple consecutive years. Compliance with the national standards for stroke reflected within our GWTG data is largely due to our interdisciplinary stroke rounds and staff accountability.
Conclusions:
Utilizing a specific stroke performance measure tool during interdisciplionary stroke rounds enables our team to review all stroke performance measures, ensure documentation is complete and allows an interchange of ideas among disciplines to provide the best care to the stroke survivor and family..
An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report: Developing Performance Measures from Clinical Practice Guidelines
